Aftercare

Tattoo Aftercare

Traditional wrap

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your tattoo.
2. Remove the traditional wrap after 2–3 hours, unless your artist instructs otherwise.
3. Gently wash with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Do not scrub.
4. Pat dry with a clean disposable paper towel and allow the area to dry.
5. Apply a very thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer as needed, generally twice daily. Do not over-moisturize.

Derm Shield / clear adhesive bandage

1. Leave the original Derm Shield on for at least 24 hours and up to 3 days, or as your artist recommends and the product instructions allow.
2. Some fluid beneath the film can be normal. If the bandage leaks, the seal breaks, or irritation develops, remove it and follow traditional aftercare.
3. To remove, gently stretch and peel the film back along the skin under lukewarm running water. Do not yank it off.
4. Wash gently, pat dry, and continue with the care instructions above.

While healing

• Avoid swimming, pools, hot tubs, baths, and soaking the tattoo until healed. Showers are fine.
• Avoid direct sunlight, tanning, scratching, picking, friction, and tight clothing over the area.
• Do not use Vaseline, antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin, fragranced lotions, or harsh cleansers unless your healthcare professional directs you.
• Light flaking and itching are common. Surface healing often takes around 2–4 weeks; deeper healing can take longer.

Increasing redness, heat, swelling, worsening pain, pus, fever, or spreading redness warrants prompt medical attention.

Piercing Aftercare

Body piercings

1. Wash your hands before cleaning or touching your piercing.
2. Use sterile 0.9% sodium chloride saline wound wash with no additives, generally once or twice daily. Rinse in the shower as needed.
3. Gently dry with clean disposable gauze. Avoid cotton balls, Q-tips, and towels that may snag or leave fibers.
4. Do not twist, rotate, or unnecessarily move your jewelry.

Oral piercings

• Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush gently twice a day and rinse with plain water after eating, drinking anything other than water, or smoking.
• If using mouthwash, choose alcohol-free and do not overuse it.
• Avoid sharing drinks or utensils, oral sexual contact, and excessive irritation while healing.
• Cool foods and drinks may help with early swelling. Be careful with spicy, acidic, or very hot foods if they irritate the piercing.

Things to remember

• Avoid alcohol, peroxide, harsh soaps, ointments, and homemade salt solutions on piercings.
• Do not submerge a healing piercing in pools, lakes, or hot tubs.
• Keep bedding, phones, headphones, and other items that contact the piercing clean.
• Avoid pressure, snagging, unnecessary touching, and cosmetic or hair products near the piercing.
• See your piercer for jewelry changes or downsizing during healing. Do not remove jewelry from a potentially infected piercing unless a medical professional advises you to.
• Healing times vary greatly by location. Your piercer can explain what to expect for yours.

For persistent problems, contact Hannia. If you notice worsening pain, spreading redness, significant swelling, pus, fever, or feel unwell, seek medical care promptly. Trouble breathing or swallowing after an oral piercing is an emergency.